The Board granted a 20 percent evaluation for recurrent lumbar spine pain from September 13, 1999 through July 2, 2001 and denied the veteran's claims for higher evaluations prior to that date. The Board also granted an initial evaluation of 10 percent for thoracic back pain.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations showed significant improvement in the veteran's lumbar spine condition from September 13, 1999 onwards, warranting a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- recurrent lumbar spine pain, thoracic spine pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 22, 2005
- Citation
- 0508566
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0508566.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require care or assistance from another person on a regular basis to protect him from hazards and dangers incident to his daily environment, which has been determined based on the evidence of record. As such, the claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance is granted.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for thoracic spine pain and tinnitus, as well as higher ratings for various service-connected conditions.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's GERD and Schatzki's ring were granted a combined rating of 30 percent, while other claims for increased ratings or service connection were denied.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for thoracic spine pain and cervical strain, but denied service connection for right 3rd digit residuals, hand tremors, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional abdominal pain syndrome/abdominal pain bleeding, allergy-induced asthma, a right ankle disorder, claimed as degenerative joint disease (DJD), headaches, and respiratory insufficiency (dyspnea).
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